DISCLOSURE POLICY (Last update: April 2023)
Disclosed relationships. When I started my blog in 2008, these relationships did not exist. However, in building a blog that is a free community resource — many relationships are forged. Here are the few that have turned into formal relationships:
- I became an OC Parks official volunteer in 2015 and renewed my commitment in 2017, but ended that relationship in 2019. I actively volunteered in-person providing outreach at community events for the OC Parks Communications Unit to share my love for parks with others in a rewarding and more personal atmosphere. I received no compensation for my volunteer work.
- Inside the Outdoors Foundation became a Featured Sponsor of my Nature Classes and Camps Directory in June 2017. In July 2017, I submitted a proposal to manage social media for Inside the Outdoors Foundation on their social media accounts. My proposal was accepted and I began work in August 2017 which is continuing into my 6th school year. I received compensation for the sponsorship and I am compensated for my social media work.
Third party affiliate links. FunOrangeCountyParks.com may contain third party affiliate links on the home page and individual blog posts or pages. My intention is not to push sales, but make it easier for you to find items I may talk about by posting links. It’s up to you whether you choose to buy items or not. However, by purchasing products through my site or newsletter, I receive a very small monetary benefit. FunOrangeCountyParks.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon is the only affiliate program used on this website.
Mediavine display advertising. All display advertising is served through Mediavine and automatically based on your user settings. I have no way to know which particular ads are served to you.
Sponsored posts, directory listings, or product placements. I may receive compensation for sponsored posts, directory listings, or product placements. “Sponsored Posts” will be identified with a thank you to the sponsor. Free directory listings are not sponsored. However, sponsors can invest in an expanded listing where they are listed as Featured Sponsors. I announce Featured Sponsors in my weekly emails. Product Placements will have a disclosure notice at the bottom of the post. I believe I am building community by offering small businesses advertising opportunities they might not otherwise be able to afford or access. I strive to make sure there is a good fit between advertisers and readers. Past Sponsors include: Wonder Sprouts, City of Irvine, Tinkergarten, June Care, and Inside the Outdoors Foundation.
Mention of an acquaintance, friend, or family member. I have many friends in Orange County and beyond from: personal relationships, Twitter, photographers, the blogging community, groups promoting play outdoors, mom entrepreneurs, rangers, nonprofit volunteers and the list goes on and on. I refer to my friends in blog posts. It’s one of the best perks about running your own blog – I can talk about my friends and acquaintances or point out their cool products. I always try to point out my relationships in the actual post.
Received a free product, service, tour, accommodations, meals, or admission while researching a post. If I report on a “media preview” or “hosted event” — you can assume I received freebies or entrance fees so I can preview the location, activity, or food for the purpose of first-person reporting to you. I may even receive gifts from the company or organization for attending. However, this does not impact my content. I report my honest personal opinion of these events. I may also receive complimentary products to review on the website. I mention it in the post and in a disclosure notice at the footer of a post.
Trading ad space with a business in exchange for a product or service. The only times this has happened so far is in the case of my photographer friends who provide amazing professional photographs. They didn’t ask for anything in return, but I think it’s right to provide them some mentions for the favor.
DISCLOSURE POLICY
This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact play@funorangecountyparks.com.
This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.
This blog abides by word of mouth marketing standards. I believe in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post will be clearly identified as paid or sponsored content.
The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for my posts or advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers’ own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.
This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. This content may not always be identified.
To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org